Carlos Beltran is scheduled to fly from Cincinnati to Philadelphia on Wednesday night to join the San Francisco Giants, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
A New York Mets spokesman told ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin that Beltran collected his belongings and left Great American Ball Park on Wednesday night.
Earlier Wednesday, two sources with knowledge of the trade talks told ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian the Giants were closing in on a deal for the Mets right fielder.
The Associated Press later reported the two teams agreed to a trade and were seeking Beltran's permission to complete the deal, saying the Mets had contacted the commissioner's office for a 24-hour window to negotiate with Beltran to waive his no-trade clause. With Beltran set to join the Giants in Philadelphia, that no longer appears to be an obstacle.
The All-Star slugger had the option to block any deal because he is a 14-year veteran who has spent the last seven seasons in New York, giving him 10-and-5 rights
As part of a package for Beltran, the Giants would include pitcher Zack Wheeler, sources told Olney. To complete the deal, the Mets will pick up $4 million of the $6.5 million that Beltran has left on his contract.
"While we have been engaged in discussions, we're not in position to comment at this time," the Mets said in a statement.
Manager Terry Collins was told to hold Beltran, who was not at batting practice Wednesday, out of the lineup. It would be the second major trade for the Mets, who dealt closer Francisco Rodriguez to Milwaukee after the All-Star Game.
"Everyone here has anticipated it, whether we like it or not," Collins said. "We knew it was going to happen. We've talked about it for the last 10 days. So we'll find out tomorrow."
Giants manager Bruce Bochy was asked about the pending Beltran acquisition in his daily meeting with reporters before Wednesday's game. He said he is still waiting for definitive word from San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean.
"I would love to comment on it," Bochy said, "but until this thing gets finalized and I get word exactly where it's at, it's hard for me to say anything. So I'm going to have to hold back until I hear from Brian and this thing gets done one way or the other."
Bochy acknowledged that the San Francisco offense needs a lift. The Giants rank 15th in the National League with 371 runs scored. "I think it's fair to say we're looking for some help with this offense -- somebody that can hit in the heart of the order. That's what Brian has been working hard on," Bochy said.
When Beltran signed his seven-year, $119 million contract with the Mets in January 2005, it included a complete no-trade clause that requires him to give permission before the Mets deal him.
Sources told Olney on Wednesday that the Cleveland Indians offered to take on Beltran's entire salary for the rest of the year, but were told that the outfielder would not consider going to Cleveland. The Indians walked away from the talks convinced that Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, is in control of the process.
"While I won't comment on specific players, we are continuing to work to try to improve the team and haven't limited ourselves in the alternatives we've considered," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti told The Associated Press in an email.
Amid speculation that Beltran might be hesitant to leave the National League for an American League team, Boras told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick on Tuesday that one factor trumps all.
"This decision for Carlos is about the select group of teams where he feels he has a great chance to win," Boras said. "That's what this thing is about."
Beltran also has said he is not interested in serving as a designated hitter.
Shortstop Jose Reyes said Beltran took teammates to a local steakhouse owned by one of his friends following an 8-6 win over the Reds on Tuesday night.
"We were joking with him: 'You're doing this because you're going to get traded,'" Reyes said. "He said, 'No, no.'"
Reyes said losing Beltran will be a huge blow to the Mets.
"You lose a guy like that in July, it's big, it's huge," Reyes said. "We've got to continue to play with what we've got. It's not easy to replace that kind of player. It's going to be tough."
Collins said Lucas Duda would play in right field a lot after Beltran is gone.
"I'm probably more comfortable at first base and left field because I haven't played a lot out there," Duda said. "I'll try my best out there and see what happens."
"He'd better get comfortable real fast," Collins said.
Pitcher R.A. Dickey has known Beltran since 2000 and will miss having him in the clubhouse.
"He's a very complete individual, not only on the field but off," Dickey said. "He's a valuable piece that's leaving. It's kind of sad."
Information from ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick, ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin and The Associated Press was used in this report.
A New York Mets spokesman told ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin that Beltran collected his belongings and left Great American Ball Park on Wednesday night.
Earlier Wednesday, two sources with knowledge of the trade talks told ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian the Giants were closing in on a deal for the Mets right fielder.
The Associated Press later reported the two teams agreed to a trade and were seeking Beltran's permission to complete the deal, saying the Mets had contacted the commissioner's office for a 24-hour window to negotiate with Beltran to waive his no-trade clause. With Beltran set to join the Giants in Philadelphia, that no longer appears to be an obstacle.
The All-Star slugger had the option to block any deal because he is a 14-year veteran who has spent the last seven seasons in New York, giving him 10-and-5 rights
As part of a package for Beltran, the Giants would include pitcher Zack Wheeler, sources told Olney. To complete the deal, the Mets will pick up $4 million of the $6.5 million that Beltran has left on his contract.
"While we have been engaged in discussions, we're not in position to comment at this time," the Mets said in a statement.
Manager Terry Collins was told to hold Beltran, who was not at batting practice Wednesday, out of the lineup. It would be the second major trade for the Mets, who dealt closer Francisco Rodriguez to Milwaukee after the All-Star Game.
"Everyone here has anticipated it, whether we like it or not," Collins said. "We knew it was going to happen. We've talked about it for the last 10 days. So we'll find out tomorrow."
Giants manager Bruce Bochy was asked about the pending Beltran acquisition in his daily meeting with reporters before Wednesday's game. He said he is still waiting for definitive word from San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean.
"I would love to comment on it," Bochy said, "but until this thing gets finalized and I get word exactly where it's at, it's hard for me to say anything. So I'm going to have to hold back until I hear from Brian and this thing gets done one way or the other."
Bochy acknowledged that the San Francisco offense needs a lift. The Giants rank 15th in the National League with 371 runs scored. "I think it's fair to say we're looking for some help with this offense -- somebody that can hit in the heart of the order. That's what Brian has been working hard on," Bochy said.
When Beltran signed his seven-year, $119 million contract with the Mets in January 2005, it included a complete no-trade clause that requires him to give permission before the Mets deal him.
Sources told Olney on Wednesday that the Cleveland Indians offered to take on Beltran's entire salary for the rest of the year, but were told that the outfielder would not consider going to Cleveland. The Indians walked away from the talks convinced that Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, is in control of the process.
"While I won't comment on specific players, we are continuing to work to try to improve the team and haven't limited ourselves in the alternatives we've considered," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti told The Associated Press in an email.
Amid speculation that Beltran might be hesitant to leave the National League for an American League team, Boras told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick on Tuesday that one factor trumps all.
"This decision for Carlos is about the select group of teams where he feels he has a great chance to win," Boras said. "That's what this thing is about."
Beltran also has said he is not interested in serving as a designated hitter.
Shortstop Jose Reyes said Beltran took teammates to a local steakhouse owned by one of his friends following an 8-6 win over the Reds on Tuesday night.
"We were joking with him: 'You're doing this because you're going to get traded,'" Reyes said. "He said, 'No, no.'"
Reyes said losing Beltran will be a huge blow to the Mets.
"You lose a guy like that in July, it's big, it's huge," Reyes said. "We've got to continue to play with what we've got. It's not easy to replace that kind of player. It's going to be tough."
Collins said Lucas Duda would play in right field a lot after Beltran is gone.
"I'm probably more comfortable at first base and left field because I haven't played a lot out there," Duda said. "I'll try my best out there and see what happens."
"He'd better get comfortable real fast," Collins said.
Pitcher R.A. Dickey has known Beltran since 2000 and will miss having him in the clubhouse.
"He's a very complete individual, not only on the field but off," Dickey said. "He's a valuable piece that's leaving. It's kind of sad."
Information from ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick, ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin and The Associated Press was used in this report.
